SECT. VI.—HOW TO KNOW IF THE DISEASE WILL TERMINATE BY A CRISIS, OR BY RESOLUTION.
This may be ascertained from what has been already said, namely, the species of the fever and its duration, and perhaps from the species of the fever alone. For hot and ardent fevers are of short duration, and usually terminate with some critical evacuation; whereas the gentler kinds prove more chronic, and have a tendency to abscess. From what has been said, it appears that we may prognosticate not only when the disease will come to a crisis, but also how it will terminate; for acute diseases generally terminate by critical evacuation, and the chronic by abscess.
Commentary. A similar statement is made by Aëtius (v, 22.) See also Averrhoes (Comment. in Cantica Avicennæ.)